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Opening Remarks. Robert L. Brown, Esq. Chair, China TeamGreenebaum Doll
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1. Welcome to the Third Annual Greenebaum
China Business Summit
2. Opening Remarks Robert L. Brown, Esq.
Chair, China Team
Greenebaum Doll & McDonald
502/587-3716
rlb@gdm.com
3. China: The New Franchising Frontier Sean P. Gallagher, Esq.
Greenebaum Doll & McDonald
502/587-3773
spg@gdm.com
4. Product Distribution China: Population of 1.3 billion
How do I put my products in the hands of consumers?
5. Methods of Distribution Company owned stores
Distributorships and dealerships
Franchising
6. What is Franchising? Trademark license
Payment of franchise fee
Significant assistance or significant control
7. Why Franchise? Availability of capital
Allocate the risk of failure of any single unit to the franchisee who owns and operates that unit
Knowledge of franchisee
8. Measures for the Regulation of Commercial Franchise Issued by the Ministry of Commerce
Effective February 1, 2005
To promote “healthy and orderly development of commercial franchising”
Commercial Franchise Regulation pending before the State Council – stay tuned
9. Disclose, Disclose, Disclose! What?
Financial information, estimated initial investment, sources of products and supplies, information on existing and terminated franchises. All disclosures “requested” by a franchisee – Yikes!
When?
At least 20 days prior to signing franchise agreement (or anytime at the request of a franchisee?)
Why?
Liability for economic losses caused by inadequate disclosures or misrepresentations.
10. Relationship Rules Term: Not less than 3 years.
Standard of performance.
Franchisor must operate in accordance with the principles of fair dealing, honesty and trustworthiness.
What does that mean?
Implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing?
Filing of Franchise Agreement.
Implications are unclear.
11. Foreign-Invested Enterprise Two company-owned units in China for more than one year prior to offering franchises for sale?
Cross-border franchising?
Unclear whether it falls under Franchise Measures.
12. International Expansion into China and Elsewhere. Understanding which countries (such as China) have franchise specific laws.
Type of disclosure documents.
International Disclosure Document.
Traditional UFOC with a country-specific wrap.
Geographic or language-specific disclosure document.
To disclose or not to disclose – that is the question!
Talk with your attorney early in the process.
13. Foreign Investment and Recent Changes to China’s Corporate Law Haifeng Hong
Greenebaum Doll & McDonald
502/587-3568
hh@gdm.com
14. Foreign Investment in China Foreign Direct Investment by Vehicle Type
(January-November 2004 and 2005)
15. Foreign Investment in China Industry Updates
Distribution Rights
Definition: to sell imported or locally sourced goods directly at the wholesale or retail levels within China
Previously, domestic import-export agents and distributors are necessary
July 2005: PRC Ministry of Commerce issued application procedures through which FIEs can obtain distribution rights
16. Foreign Investment in China Industry Updates
Banking
Liberalization since 2001; Remove restrictions by Dec 1, 2006
Expanded local presence: Seven more cities
Reduced minimum operating capital requirement: RMB100 million ($12.4 million)
Foreign Banks’ Stake Acquisitions
17. Foreign Investment in China What to Watch in the Near Future?
Income Tax unification
Official Rate: 33%
Post-adjustment: Foreign Invested Enterprises (FIE) (11%) v. Domestic Companies (23%)
Unified Legislation in 2007 expected
Prediction on Unified Legislation:
current incentives available for projects existing prior new tax regime
new corporate income tax: around 25%
tax incentives based on industry and geographic location
18. Foreign Investment in China What to Watch in the Near Future?
The Antimonopoly Law
Expected to be passed in late 2006
Increased access to certain markets dominated by State Owned Enterprises (SOEs)
“Public Interest" concern
19. Foreign Investment in China What to Watch in the Near Future?
Intellectual Property Rights
U.S.- China Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade (JCCT): July 2005
to increase criminal prosecutions
to criminalize the export of counterfeit goods
to accede WIPO Internet treaties by June 2006 and combat internet piracy
20. Recent Changes to China’s Corporate Law New Law
New Legislation
Amendment of the Corporate Law
Passed on October 27, 2005, effective on January 1, 2006
Background
21. Recent Changes to China’s Corporate Law Relaxation of the Rules Governing the Establishment and Investment of a Company
Minimum Capital Contributions
Joint stock companies: RMB5 million (US$619,594)
Other LLCs: RMB30,000 (US$3,718)
New criteria for a company’s investment in other companies
No limitation on a company’s total investments in other companies
Joint and several liability to the invested companies’ debts
22. Recent Changes to China’s Corporate Law Improvement to Corporate Governance
Minority Shareholders Protection
Access to the accounts of the corporation
Resort to courts to revoke relevant resolution made in violation of convening procedures or voting methods as required by articles of the corporation or law: 60-day limitation
Derivative lawsuit against directors or senior managers
23. Recent Changes to China’s Corporate Law Improvement to Corporate Governance (cont’d)
Employee’s Right-to-Know
Important corporate issues
Decisions affecting the company
Legal Representative
Chairman of BOD
Managing director or Manager
Under old law: only chairman of BOD
24. Recent Changes to China’s Corporate Law Piercing the Corporate Veil
Jointly and Severally Liability for Corporation’s Debt
Abuse of independent legal status of a corporation
Intentionally remove the corporation’s debts
Cause material loss to creditors of the corporation
25. Summary An Evolving Market
Opportunity v. Risk
Note: The information included in this presentation is based on the following sources:
The China Effect, China Business Review, April, 2006
Foreign Investment in China, The US –China Business Council, January, 2006
Changes to China’s Corporate Law, Greenebaum International Letter, Issue 1, 2006
26. Tax Aspects of Structuring Investments in China Gregory S. Shumate
Greenebaum Doll & McDonald
859/655-6884
gss@gdm.com
27. General U.S. International Tax Concepts U.S. taxes its U.S. citizens, resident aliens and U.S. corporations on their world wide income
Objective of doing business in China: Maximize Repatriation of Earnings through Minimization of Worldwide Tax By:
Deferring US Tax
Utilizing Foreign Tax Credit
Utilizing Income Tax Treaty Protection
Expense Allocation
28. Phase 1:Start-Up Phase-- Direct Sales Direct Sales to Chinese Customers
Minimum Foreign Presence in Start-up Phase
Objective: No China Income Tax on Business Income
Local Law Taxable Business Presence
U.S.-China Income Tax Treaty
Separate Standard under Treaty - Avoidance of Permanent Establishment (“PE”)
Office or other fixed place of business in China---PE
Employees or dependent agents in China who habitually conclude contracts on behalf of U.S. company and has ability to bind U.S. company--PE
Factory or inventory storage, display, delivery, 3rd party processing, purchase of goods & merchandise in China—No PE
6 month construction projects and 12 month service contracts—No PE
Web based sales, phone, mail order, fax or other non-China based sales office—No PE
29. Advantages/Disadvantages of Direct Sales Advantages include simplicity, no need for establishment of an international structure, minimal tax planning and no China income tax
No substantial financial investment
Consider Export Incentives: DISC to reduce U.S. income tax rate on exports
Disadvantages include no foreign presence or control over local marketing, sales, quality control, delivery, etc.
30. Phase 2: Representative Office Overseas Expansion Phase: Branch office not permitted, so a Representative Office is an option
Liason, marketing support, market research and information gathering
No profit motive, so no fixed place of business and no China tax
31. Phase 3: Taxation of Foreign Investment Enterprises Choice of Entity
China/Foreign Equity JV
Cooperative JV
Wholly Foreign Owned Enterprise
Foreign Invested Shareholding Company
All treated as Corporation for US tax purposes
Deferral of U.S. income tax until profits are repatriated or application of anti-deferral rules (i.e., CFC, Subpart F rules)
Indirect Foreign Tax Credits applies to dividends
32. Holding Company Structure Defer U.S. tax and redistribute profits to foreign subsidiaries without U.S. repatriation through use of holding company structure.
Controlled Foreign Corporations (“CFC”), Subpart F and anti-deferral rules
Passive income and foreign base sales and service income
Manufacturing and same country exceptions to Subpart F
Check the box (Form 8832) on lower tier subsidiaries (disregarded entities) to prevent Subpart F income
Fail definition of CFC through ownership rules
Favorable Holding Company Jurisdictions
Netherlands
Hong Kong (HK and PRC separate countries for US tax purposes)
Cayman Islands
33. Foreign Tax Credit FTC partially alleviates Double Tax Problem
Foreign Tax Credit Limitation
U.S. will tax profits that are subject to a lower rate of tax in another country
Thus, deferral of U.S. tax is usually preferred
Declining worldwide tax rates vs. higher U.S. tax rate
Direct vs. Indirect Foreign Tax Credit
34. Third Annual Greenebaum
China Business Summit Questions?